City receives water quality report

The city of Madisonville received their 2017 consumer confidence report for their public water system and received no violations by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) in any of the listed categories therein.

The main goal was to use specific tests to find contaminants that may be present in the water such as microbial contaminations like viruses and bacteria, inorganic contaminants like salt and metals, pesticides and herbicides, organic chemical contaminants and radioactive contaminants.

The report tested for multiple contamination levels in the water during the year of 2017 or recently before. These categories that were listed in the report were copper, lead, haloacetic acids, total trihalomethanes. barium, chromium, fluoride, nitrate (measured as nitrogen), beta/photon emitters, combined radium and chlorine.

Most of the tests were conducted during 2017, but the copper and led test was run in September of 2016, beta/photon emitters in June 2016 and combined radium in July of 2013.

In order to ensure that tap water is safe for consumption, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) prescribes regulations which limit the amount of certain contaminants in water provided by public water systems. FDA regulations establish limits for contaminants in bottled water which must provide the same protection for public health.

If present, elevated levels of lead can cause serious health problems. Lead is primarily from materials and components associated with service lines and home plumbing. Safety officials cannot always control the variety of materials used in plumbing components. When your water has been sitting for several hours, you can minimize the potential for lead exposure by flushing your tap for 30 seconds to two minutes before using the water for drinking or cooking.

If you are concerned about your individual water supply and possible contamination, call the Safe Drinking Water Hotline at (800) 426-4791 or visit www.epa.org.